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Sustainable LivingTue, 27 Oct 2015 14:26:44 +0000en-UShourly1The Importance of Organic Vegetable Gardening.http://earthmum.org/the-importance-of-organic-vegetable-gardening/
http://earthmum.org/the-importance-of-organic-vegetable-gardening/#commentsMon, 20 Jul 2015 21:20:55 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=2650Crop rotation is the method of moving the location in the garden and planting different vegetable in your garden every year. Each plant has different nutritional needs and depletes the soil of certain nutrients. This keeps the soil's nutrients fertile and increases the yield of summer produce. For those which opt to obtain naturally increased […]

Crop rotation is the method of moving the location in the garden and planting different vegetable in your garden every year.

Each plant has different nutritional needs and depletes the soil of certain nutrients. This keeps the soil's nutrients fertile and increases the yield of summer produce.

For those which opt to obtain naturally increased vegetables, keep in mind to tidy just before preparing them. This will certainly get rid of any kind of kind of risky substances or down payment that can still exists which is hidden to the naked eye.

Organic Gardening Vegetables

If you wish to organically garden vegetables, remember to check carefully the types of fertilizers, weed killers. There are many organic options you can use to protect your family from unnecessary chemical exposure. Take time to read labels before applying any chemicals.

It is also desirable to buy Heirloom seeds. The seeds will add to the quality and flavor of your produce. Many stores now carry a small selection of organic and Heirloom seeds. It is good to see the organic seeds and Heirloom vegetable plants at Lowes Home Improvement and Walmart.

You can buy seeds and watch the seedlings sprout or you can buy the plant. But keep in mind that seeds must be planted much earlier in the season and you will need space and adequate light to produce strong seedlings. A Green house or a sunny room in the house to get them started early.

Many land owners and home owners are trying to eat 100% more organic vegetables by planting their own gardens. It is evident this year by all the gardens you see when driving around. It is wonderful to see all the gardens on lawns and balconies and porches

For those that do not have a big garden, growing organic vegetables in containers is the answer. The plants need more water than those planted in the dirt but the convenience of having container plants on the porch or balcony makes watering and caring for your garden easy.

Organic Gardening Vegetables Strawberries

In both occasions, you need to prepare the soil, use compost as well making sure plants are safe and secure from dangers such as insects, weeds as well as other dogs and cats that will eat what you have grown.

The US Department of Agriculture encourages farmers use to chemical-free farming. This is gives us hope that agriculture is move towards Organic Farming and Permaculture.

There is no uncertainty that organic vegetables as well as various other products are necessary nowadays. If you value your health along with those of your relative you should purchase these from your local grocery store or plant it yourself.

You can grow organically combating insects with various other pets (chickens, ducks) organic fertilizers (Food grade Diatomaceous earth), Dish-washing soap and many others which you might find out after doing some research.

The primary factor why organic veggie gardening is so crucial is the reality that the plants collected have 50% even more nutrients as well as vitamins in comparison to that of standard farming methods.

Organic vegetable gardening seems to be the craze nowadays as more individuals are thinking about exactly what they are consuming.

We have been so overwhelmed with fast food and its convenience. We as a society are not paying attention to what we are feeding our children and ourselves.

Organic Gardening Vegetables & Flowers

In the past, using pesticides and chemicals that that allow us to mass produce vegetables instead of using small local farmers has allowed risky chemicals that entered our farming agricultural systems. This is profit driven and healthy aspects have taken the backseat.

If you think concerning it, you can start by planting our own organic gardens wherever no matter how small. Ways to start are by composting our vegetable refuse just by doing this reduces the amount that goes into landfills, use less fertilizer on our lawn and making that space into a green-space for growing vegetables. The overuse of fertilizers goes directly into our water sources and damages the environment.

The use of organic vegetables will lower the health risk of individuals. The organic vegetable nutrient content is much higher by the mere fact that it often travels less distance to get to you. When large companies truck your vegetables to your neighborhood grocery store it is a guarantee that it was picked green and has traveled a long way. This process causes the loss of many nutrients not to mention the use of pesticides to get that perfect vegetable or fruit.

]]>http://earthmum.org/the-importance-of-organic-vegetable-gardening/feed/0Organic Vegetable Gardening Tipshttp://earthmum.org/organic-vegetable-gardening-tips/
http://earthmum.org/organic-vegetable-gardening-tips/#commentsWed, 10 Jun 2015 01:44:32 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=2305Organic farming is the trend these days due to the fact that it environmentally friendly. If you start with organic gardening you should be aware of the types of fertilizers and the seeds to use. These supplies include Dirt, Mulch, and Organic Seeds. Dirt is perhaps one of the most important. You can grow your […]

Organic farming is the trend these days due to the fact that it environmentally friendly.

If you start with organic gardening you should be aware of the types of fertilizers and the seeds to use. These supplies include Dirt, Mulch, and Organic Seeds. Dirt is perhaps one of the most important. You can grow your vegetables in the ground or in pots.

Buy Organic seeds but pay attention to the plants needs or requirements and make sure they are Organic and not GMO. Corn is the worst it is very often genetically modified.

Organic Tomatoes

Some people do not buy compost but make it themselves, which is great for your organic garden.

For that, you can make use of dead leaves, vegetable scraps and also certain types of manure. Do not use weeds. If your compost does not heat up enough the weeds seeds will survive and be introduced to your garden. Composting is eco-friendly and cuts down the quantity of garbage dumps. Kitchen scraps can be composted in your yard with minimal effort. Check out the easy composting on YouTube.

Bugs can be a problem but don’t go overboard buying chemical that get back in to our water and wipe out entire ecosystems of insects, birds, ladybugs, praying mantises and the toads. These critters have wonderful purpose and using chemical can be devastating to this population.

You may also use a spray bottle with water and a little dishwashing soap to rid the plants of bugs. Diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled around the vegetable beds to ward of snails and slugs. It is also feasible to spray the area with horticultural vinegar that stops weeds from germinating and also releases nitrogen into the dirt. There are many options for handling these little critters without using toxic chemicals.

Bug In Organic Garden

The organic fight against pest vs using toxic chemicals in your Organic Garden.

One more non-toxic chemical you could utilize to fight weeds is fish or seaweed based fluid based fertilizers. These likewise release nitrogen, phosphate and potash that benefit your crops.

For individuals who don't have a yard, you could still do natural farming by purchasing pots. The watering requirement for potted plants will increase. They tend to lose moisture more rapidly than plants in the ground. It is important to keep an eye on the plants.

Organic Strawberries

Having all the organic gardening supplies prepared will make it very easy for you to grow your organic garden. The more you practice gardening, the easier it gets. Your gardening knowledge increases over the years.

It is always fun to try a new variety and see what grows best in your area. There is nothing more satisfying then to have a cornucopia of vegetables in your own backyard. Organic vegetables are expensive at the store you can grow you own with a little effort and planning. Best of all you know what the plants have been exposed to. The vegetables you grow can be totally chemical free. Go ahead and experience the difference.

]]>http://earthmum.org/organic-vegetable-gardening-tips/feed/1Composting For My Organic Gardenhttp://earthmum.org/composting-organic-garden/
http://earthmum.org/composting-organic-garden/#commentsSat, 30 May 2015 22:03:26 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=463 My family and I in North Carolina have been composting and recycling our wasted food for 20 years. Mostly kitchen scraps, excluding meat and animal fat. It’s easy, you just toss your eggshells, fruit peels, veggie ends, tea bags, coffee grounds, into a bowl. I keep mine by the sink. Once it is full […]

My family and I in North Carolina have been composting and recycling our wasted food for 20 years.

Mostly kitchen scraps, excluding meat and animal fat. It’s easy, you just toss your eggshells, fruit peels, veggie ends, tea bags, coffee grounds, into a bowl. I keep mine by the sink. Once it is full I take it outside to my composter. Mine was provided by the county, the agricultural extension office has composting classes and offers composters.

I raised a family, so we have always had lots of kitchen waste. It made me feel good that I was keeping this from going into a landfill. I also do not have garbage pickup and composting reduced the amount of waste I had to take to the dump. The composting in this way, requires minimal attention and enriches the soil. I move it once a year to a different and it helps improve the health of my yard. Another type of composting I use is yard waste, piles of leaves, sticks, and grass. It creates habitats for wildlife. I often do this in the winter so that insects and animals have a shelter from the cold. The piles breakdown and you can add to them or build new ones in different spots. I compost in a very low maintenance way. It doesn’t have to be
complicated. There are different ways to compost both kitchen and yard waste. Mike McGrath has some interesting ideas about it!

Start composting your food waste today and use it for your organic garden soil in the future.

]]>http://earthmum.org/composting-organic-garden/feed/1Organic Gardening Today!http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-today/
http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-today/#commentsThu, 21 May 2015 22:07:47 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=439Farming in the United States is well over a $10 billion industry! To keep it this way and then with the health and then well-being of the general public in mind, the Department of Agriculture is making significant moves on farmers that could change to organic farming all together. This does not just conserve money […]

Farming in the United States is well over a $10 billion industry!

Organic Farming

To keep it this way and then with the health and then well-being of the general public in mind, the Department of Agriculture is making significant moves on farmers that could change to organic farming all together. This does not just conserve money yet additionally has some health and wellness advantages.

But initially, we have to understand exactly what organic farming is. This is a technique that has been practiced by old worlds that simply count on the land they dealt with, the sun and then the water to make the harvests increase.

It was simply when researchers designed fertilizers as well as pesticides that we relocated away from this method since it was thought that this will certainly make the plants bigger as well as collecting quicker.

The usage of plant foods as well as chemicals has done more injury than excellent. The chemicals used are damaging but never ever in little doses. Visualize just what if somebody eats this in excessive quantities and unknowingly establishes a health problem or their infant has birth defects.

Such threats are genuine which is why we need to do something before it occurs. Prior to the Department of Agriculture really wanted everyone to go into organic farming, examinations were conducted.

organic gardening vegetables

The results reveal that organically expanded veggies have a lot more nutrients as well as vitamins compared with conventional farming. The very same opts for its taste.

Organic veggies do not have actually hydrogenated fats, artificial flavor or coloring, sugars, additives, chemicals or recurring prescription antibiotics. This suggests that exactly what you get is 100% natural. Don't forget to clean these very first prior to it is prepared to eliminate any residue from the compost utilized in helping it increase.

The government or the Department of Agriculture is not the only one who should push farmers to change in the direction of organic farming. You could do your share by speaking with the farmers themselves as they are the ones which plant them. You could also start growing naturally increased vegetables yourself because they set you back a little bit much more in the grocery store.

Just before you begin planting, research just how big is the location so you have an idea what kind of veggies can be grown provided your limited space. You after that have to get the essential devices and also make a few of them on your own. This info could be located online, in e-books and also from the gardening store.

If you don't want to start making an organic veggie yard utilizing seeds, you could get starter plants rather however know that they set you back a bit a lot more and then this takes the thrill out of gardening.

However if money is no challenge you, of course obtain this from the shop. Just see to it that there is a stamp which approves that this has been authorized by the Department of Health, Quality Assurance International for a Certified Organic Farmers or the Tilth Farm Verified Organic certification.

If every person does their share, no person will use chemicals and also fertilizers any longer. Everyone could live healthy and balanced as well as eat healthy. At the very same time, we are able to protect the atmosphere so future generations will have the ability to use the land we have made use of to grow their crops in the future.

Organic veggie gardening is absolutely the way to go. If you ask around to some local resterants you will find they are using more of these type foods in their menus and it helps support the local business.

]]>http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-today/feed/0Organic Gardening is Easy!http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-easy/
http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-easy/#commentsThu, 24 Jul 2014 06:01:09 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=292Have you ever thought about doing some organic gardening? I know just about everyone is looking at some form of organic gardening since the GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) plants are in all our foods, we want to live better and eat what is pure from the earth. There are so many advances in growing organic […]

Have you ever thought about doing some organic gardening?

I know just about everyone is looking at some form of organic gardening since the GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) plants are in all our foods, we want to live better and eat what is pure from the earth. There are so many advances in growing organic vegetables it’s really easy to accomplish with the technology that is natural and safe to use.

Hydroponics Gardening Hand Book

By increasing your gardening naturally, you'll manage to assist nature renew its resources and have much better dirt for future use. Yes, you obtain from everything the materials that you will certainly need for this task from the exact same source you can use over and over. Try to keep you leaves after autumn and placed them into a stack to damage down over winter season. You ought to likewise acquire a compost container and add all your utilized egg coverings, veggies anything that is not unsafe and will certainly break down over time to include in your compost. Using this age old way to blend into your dirt for the next year's garden will give your garden great health.

You could actually do your very own compost by examining some books on just how this could be done. You could likewise turn to an individual which is effective with this kind of gardening and ask that individual for tips and techniques. You can use the result of that compost as plant foods on your yard.

Organic Tomatoes

Finding a specialist on organic gardening will certainly serve you well for several reasons. It doesn't matter if you will merely be doing this as a pastime or you will transform it into a business. So start asking around and try to find that individual that can continue to coach you in the profession of doing the work that borders such technique of gardening.

By having the aid of an expert at your side, particularly if you are only beginning on this task, you will be better at aiding nature. You will certainly know just what sort of plants you could grow in exactly what sort of dirt. You will certainly have a more clear perspective as to just how the components of the ground can add to the success of your job. You will know what to do in cases of problem when it come to the growth of your plants or the emergence of pests on your garden.

Learn How To Grow Organic Garden Food

Nature will really love you for the way you will just utilize organic products for the objective of growing green things on your yard. And you will certainly benefit a whole lot in the procedure of organic gardening. You will certainly have the ability to become a master of this kind of activity. You will certainly manage to create organic sources of food.

With your expertise you can turn this into a business venture once you have mastered this fine art, and you are currently collecting sufficient resources for you to eat healthy.

]]>http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-easy/feed/0Organic Vegetables & Gardening Basicshttp://earthmum.org/organic-vegetables-gardening-basics/
http://earthmum.org/organic-vegetables-gardening-basics/#commentsWed, 23 Jul 2014 20:34:19 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=265Organic Gardening Basics: It does not take a brain surgeon to plant vegetables and get it right. But if you wish to do this the old made means which has been shown to be quite efficient, you need to know the organic vegetable gardening essentials. The first thing you need to know is what is […]

Organic Gardening Basics:

It does not take a brain surgeon to plant vegetables and get it right. But if you wish to do this the old made means which has been shown to be quite efficient, you need to know the organic vegetable gardening essentials.

The first thing you need to know is what is organic vegetable gardening? It is just a method of farming that does not make use of any sort of artificial products that includes plant foods and chemicals. In other words, you function with attributes to obtain what you wish.

Grow your own Eco-Organic food

Planting The Right Vegetables

When picking the right vegetable to plant recognizes which of these agree with to the soil and the climate? If you live in an area that experiences droughts, purchase those that do not eat that much water.

Just before you go down seeds into the soil, make certain the land prepares by utilizing the land so it is clear both of rocks and weeds.

The next step will certainly be to include compost, bone meal or rock phosphate and greensand to the soil to provide it with nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. If the pH level of the dirt is expensive, include lime or sulphur to change it.

Organic Gardening Water Melons

Proper Organic Fertilizer

Another point you have to do before planting the seeds is placing in organic fertilizer. You can use recycled fallen leaves, yard trimmings, coffee grounds, eggshells and cooking area waste which should be used a month just before growing begins.

Growing With Organic Seeds

It is time to grow the seeds. Each seed needs to be spaced by a certain proximity the roots do not fight for water. In in between each of the vegetables, you can plant various other points too because the tighter the area, the lesser the possibilities that weeds will certainly increase.

Organic Pest Control Tips

Organic Gardening Flowers

Insects are the most significant hazard to your organic garden. To eliminate them, you could make use of birds, frogs or other pests. You don't have these animals to ward off other insects. You just have to produce the ideal setting by placing a bird home or a small pond. Once they are in area, they will certainly do the remainder by patrolling your garden and consuming those who seek to consume your crops.

Setting up a few barriers can likewise aid to control the bugs. Row covers are known to avoid moths from getting and laying eggs. You could additionally make use of sticky catches and aluminum foil dog collars to quit insects and borers.

There are likewise organic pesticides around however a few of them could only eliminate a couple of kinds of vermin’s. Before you purchase them, make sure you understand just what you are dealing with.

Gardening Preparation Tips

Crop turning is the most effective way to protect the fertility of the soil. This is done after you collect the vegetables so it soil is ready for planting again. For this to function, you need to plant in the exact same location a various vegetable.

Any person can find the basics and find out how to do proper organic gardening to grow great vegetables! In no time you can have your own mini farm in your back yard. Your vegetable will be fresh for the pickings at any time you want which is quite convenient as these are only a couple of feet from your home.

Should You Try Organic Gardening?

Should everybody get into organic vegetable gardening? Possibly given that there is a meals lack now and many of the vegetables imported do not utilize this strategy. The federal government for its part has actually provided rewards to farmers right here to change to this approach yet its visiting take additional effort to convince nations that collaborate with the US to do the exact same ordeal.

]]>http://earthmum.org/organic-vegetables-gardening-basics/feed/0Organic Gardening Pest Control Ideashttp://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-pest-control-ideas/
http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-pest-control-ideas/#commentsSun, 20 Jul 2014 18:02:57 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=225If there is anything that stops your organic garden from giving the very best veggies, it will need to be the bugs that get into and surround your area. Now, if you are really major regarding managing those vermins and keeping them from your garden permanently, a quantity of products is easily available for you […]

If there is anything that stops your organic garden from giving the very best veggies, it will need to be the bugs that get into and surround your area.

Now, if you are really major regarding managing those vermins and keeping them from your garden permanently, a quantity of products is easily available for you to be furnished and educated regarding the different kinds of insects that can threaten your crop.

The quite tough thing about pest control is the reality that there are many kinds of pests that can invade your garden; it will actually be quite a challenge to recall them in one resting, so complete immersion to your horticulture activities is the simply surefire means to inculcate enough knowledge on bugs to see out for.

Among the attempted and examined methods for pest control is by acquainting yourself with the well-known pests. These adversaries of the garden will truly hamper the growth of your plant only if you let them.

Organic Gardening

Organic Beetles Pest Control

You have 2 options for beetles: manually eliminate them by hand or spray them with insecticide that is poisonous to them. If left neglected, beetles have the capacity to bore so much holes on your fallen leaves and gnaw at your plants gradually, especially when their populace has already blossomed. Beetles come in a variety of kinds, however the remedy for it is often both techniques stated over.

Organic Aphids Pest Control

You will typically locate sticky groups of pests that are invading your garden in colors of red if you have aphids in your garden. Thankfully, you can effortlessly fix this by spraying it with soap insecticide or any comparable material. Aphids prevail to practically every garden vegetable you could possibly envision, so if you are growing veggies, you are most likely to encounter these sticky microorganisms.

Organic Broccoli Worms Pest Control

Neem oil is the broccoli worms' worst opponent, so if you spray them with it, they will certainly run out your garden in a flash. Things is, you can identify whether cabbage worm are in the garden if you locate green caterpillar and holes on the leaves of your plants. You could also choose them by hand if you are more bold or possibly spray them with pesticide if you do not have natures neem oil handy at the time of problem.

Organic Cut Worms Pest Control

If you view crawling, dull caterpillars that are brown in colour, then you have located cutworms attacking your territory! Placing paper collars around plants after excavating around the location could help avoid cutworms from using up your precious soil and nutrients. Some chemicals could additionally work like insecticides, but this is a basic cure. You also should dig a great deal because the cut worms have this tendency to cuddle up on your plants for color and life.

Organic Maggots Pest Control

Maggots are remarkably revolting, and they have the tendency to make your landscape awful if you do not attempt to acquire rid of them. Whitening is just one of the most effective ways to obtain rid of maggots. If your organic garden is also located close to a trash can, you may pick to transfer your trash can somewhere else due to the fact that leftover meals like meat usually tend to bring in these maggots and they might make a decision to branch out of the garbage bin and into your organic garden.

There are lots of various other kinds of parasites that you can control in your garden given the best useful devices and knowledge on ways to best remove them from your organic garden.

Home Organic Gardening Info

Additional predators to your garden are the long time 'Deer'! This can only be controlled with a fence or a good dog lol.

]]>http://earthmum.org/organic-gardening-pest-control-ideas/feed/0Epson Salt Ideas For Your Gardenhttp://earthmum.org/epson-salt-ideas-garden/
http://earthmum.org/epson-salt-ideas-garden/#commentsSun, 15 Jun 2014 17:46:09 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=190Using Epson Salt in my garden is a great idea. I’m glad I found this interesting article about it, I didn’t realize this would make such a difference to my garden and how my plants have flourished in the process. I'm very interested to see how it will work on my plants but using Epson […]

Using Epson Salt in my garden is a great idea.

I’m glad I found this interesting article about it, I didn’t realize this would make such a difference to my garden and how my plants have flourished in the process. I'm very interested to see how it will work on my plants but using Epson salt on my trees and lawn is very interesting.

I wanted to show everyone what a difference it makes with and without with only water being added all of these plants was planted on the same day and time. I am showing you ones I am growing with the sq. ft. method.

I do have several baby tomatoes now.

However now the non-Epsom salt plants will be fed it also this was only to show those what a difference it makes. I'd highly suggest putting some away it has many other uses for a survival and daily living. It is actually a mineral and not a salt it is like giving your plants a mega vit. shot.

Raised Garden Bed

In your Garden start with this:

House Plants

Mix one teaspoon per gallon of water and feed to the plants every two to four weeks.

Garden startup

Sprinkle approximately one cup per 100 square feet. (10’x10’) and mix into soil before planting.

Tomatoes

Apply one tablespoon per foot of height for each plant every two weeks.

Roses

Apply one teaspoon per foot of height for each plant every two weeks.

Evergreens, Azaleas, Rhododendrons

Apply one tablespoon per nine square feet (3’x3’) over the root zone every two to four weeks.

Lawns

Apply three pounds per 1250 square feet (25’x 50’)

Apply six pounds per 2500 square feet (50’x 50’)

Apply twelve pounds per 5000 square feet (50’x 100’)

Trees

Apply two tablespoons per nine square feet (3’x 3’) over root zone every four months.

Like your body, your plants will suffer from a lack of nutrients. Just a spoonful of Epsom Salt is like a multi vitamin, and can prevent weak stalks and yellow leaves. And for big, healthy vegetables, sprinkle Epsom Salt around the base of each plant.

Q: Why is Epsom Salt good for plants?

A: Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate. Magnesium is a mineral plants need for a stronger root structure and to facilitate the uptake of chlorophyll. Many master gardeners and landscape professionals advocate its use.

]]>http://earthmum.org/epson-salt-ideas-garden/feed/0Earth Mum Greenhouse Project 6 14 14http://earthmum.org/earth-mum-greenhouse-project-6-14-14/
http://earthmum.org/earth-mum-greenhouse-project-6-14-14/#commentsSun, 15 Jun 2014 08:47:39 +0000http://earthmum.org/?p=181We have started our Greenhouse project years ago and love it. We have been gathering recycle roofing, walls, structure etc. items to build this greenhouse. Most places we got this from is Restore, Thrift Stores, Habitat for Humanity, Garage Sales, Construction sites and more. You would be surprised what people throw out and give […]

We have started our Greenhouse project years ago and love it.

We have been gathering recycle roofing, walls, structure etc. items to build this greenhouse. Most places we got this from is Restore, Thrift Stores, HabitatforHumanity, Garage Sales, Construction sites and more. You would be surprised what people throw out and give away and you can find at these great places for free or for just a couple dollars.

I will do a final article from start to finish soon.

Here are a few updated pictures of the front door entry and inside of the greenhouse which we got all these items for a few dollars.

greenhouse inside view

Here is some corner view where we used some small trim pieces we got from the ReStore for about $1 each, using 2 per door $2 total, this really look nice and we used screws so if we need to replace the plastic greenhouse sheets in the future.

I found this great article about organic gardening which I feel the info will make you do this like a pro!

Its very informative and I'm sure you will enjoy the author who wrote it, as I did, thats why we added to our Earth Mum site.
Knowledge is the key to successful organic gardening. We’ve compiled much of the information you’ll need – from the basics of getting started to finding organic solutions to specific problems – here. Want to skip the course and get started right now? Choose from a large selection of quality gardening products available from Planet Natural.

The Dirt on Growing Organically

Organic gardening, once seen as something practiced only by health nuts and hippies, is no longer a fad. Everyone wants the food we serve to our families as well as our environment to be safe and healthy. This desire for safety – wanting to do no harm to our families and the world around us– is the central reason people grow organically. The more we learn about chemical herbicides and pesticides, the more we see the effects of synthetic fertilizers and genetically modified crops, the more we realize that we must protect ourselves from them. Growing organically is a way of taking control, an attempt to make the foods you serve full of the good things your family needs, and free of the things they don’t. It’s a way of making the places where your children and pets play as safe as they can be. It’s a sign of respect to both your fellow humans and the environment as a whole.

It’s argued that organic gardens are impractical, expensive, and somewhat strange. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s the way our great grandparents gardened, the way food was raised for thousands of years before the invention, wide-spread use, and deceptive advertising of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. True, it may cost a bit more as you wean your lawns and gardens from their harmful chemical addictions. But in the long run, as you upgrade your soil quality, apply compost you’ve made yourself, and utilize practical, sustainable gardening practices, your costs will go down. Going organic is not a compromise. Done right, it yields healthy, more vigorous growth and more bountiful harvests compared to commercially-centered growing. And the peace of mind you’ll gain as you remove known carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, petroleum byproducts, and mysterious and often dangerous inert ingredients from your outdoor environment? Priceless.
For me, deciding to go organic was a no-brainer. Conventional gardening revolves around products that kill everything they touch, knocking Mother Nature off-balance and doing harm to the birds and plants that live around us. Then we add a bunch of chemicals to our soil, artificially boosting the growing potential even as we sap it of its ability to regulate moisture and sustain the beneficial insects, worms, and complimentary microbes that bring it to life. It was easy to see that this was not a sustainable system and by continuing to garden this way, I was probably doing more harm – much more harm—than good.

I became interested in growing organically 20-some years ago when I moved to Bozeman, Montana from New Hampshire, where I grew up. While going to grad schools, to make ends meet, I waited on tables at night. During the day, I took a job caring for different types of beneficial insects for a guy who was selling them to wise gardeners as a natural means of pest control. The work was fascinating and gave me a chance to learn just how effective beneficial insects could be. I was bitten by the beneficial bug “bug.” Before I knew it, I was raising beneficial insects myself and using them in my backyard garden patch. My first gardening attempts were hit and miss. The soil was hard-packed clay and I nearly broke my arm trying to break it up with a fork shovel. Then, after getting some valuable practical advice from books and veteran gardeners, I started making compost and adding organic matter to my soil, building it like crazy with all kinds of natural stuff (see Building Healthy Soil). My wife wasn’t pleased when I threw several hundred pounds of dead worms (they had cooked in transit and couldn’t be sold) into the garden, but, boy, oh boy, did my garden grow. Eventually, I had bountiful harvests of lettuce, squash, tomatoes and cucumbers – even herbs—that were the envy of my friends and neighbors. I’ve been hooked ever since.

The guy down the block who pours chemical fertilizers on his garden, sprays pesticides with abandon, and applies weed-and-feed, not to mention copious amounts of water, to his garden may get good, but expensive results as well. But he’ll never have the satisfaction of knowing that the vegetables he serves his family are untainted with harmful residues, that the yard where his children play and his pets romp is free from compounds that might hurt them, that his soil is improving naturally and not existing on a life-support diet of synthetics. That’s what brings the joy to gardening. Let’s get started!http://www.planetnatural.com/organic-gardening-guru/

Thanks for reading this great article about organic gardening, I hope you enjoyed it!